One glimpse, and the grebe is gone

Dunstall Park

Friday 7th June 2013, calm, warm, bright, 09.30 to 10.25.

At last it's summer, warmest day so far this year, so a quick check of the racecourse before the sun gets hot and high.  Barn Swallows are hawking low near their nests in the open stables, and corvids, including juvenile and adult Rook, are feeding on the central grass area, where the Canada Goose creche is grazing, 14 well-developed youngsters with 18 adults in attendance.  On to the lake, where a few House Martin from the Farndale housing estate nests are hawking, and a juvenile Grey Heron, very probably from the Pendeford Mill breeding colony, sits motionless in long grass near the shoreline.  An adult Moorhen chugs away beyond the island, and three pairs of Coot are feeding a total of eight chicks (there are probably more, but it's the devil's own job to count them accurately).  Adult and juvenile Starling take advantage of the falling water level to bathe, splashing vigorously on the shoreline near to a single drinking Stock Dove, and a female Mallard shadows three well-grown ducklings, the only ones of her 10-strong brood to survive.  That appears to be it, when a low, squat shape suddenly appears deep amidst the patches of spiked aquatic grass, a single Little Grebe sitting motionless, in outline against the glittering water.  I'd virtually written them off as a breeding species here this year, despite the presence of two pairs at the lake at the end of April, and this sighting proves nothing.  But these diminutive birds are secretive nesters, so it's just possible they may be breeding after all.  Another look to check where it might go, but too late, the bird's already dived, not a ripple remains.  We'll have to wait and see . . .   

(NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled).